Need Help?
Email or Call: 1-800-577-4762
Email or Call: 1-800-577-4762
2.00 CE Credits Available
Cognitive Defusion
by Steven Hayes
In this third video of the ACT in Action series, you will learn about the core ACT principle of cognitive defusion—a process of de-fusing from your thoughts and learning to accept them without struggle so that you are free engage with life more consciously and intentionally.
In these sessions with clients struggling with depression and anxiety, ACT founder Steven Hayes and master ACT clinician Rainer Sonntag, demonstrate a variety of cognitive defusion techniques that therapists can easily integrate into clinical practice.
Using “deliteralization,” Hayes helps his client separate words from their meanings, examine her automatic thoughts and create some space between her thoughts and emotions. And in a session with an anxious and resistant client, we learn about “physicalizing” thoughts—giving them shape, form and definition so that clients can more easily disidentify from them.Synthesizing both mindfulness and cognitive behavior techniques, cognitive defusion is a therapeutic tool that every therapist should have in their tool box. As you watch these master clinicians help their clients move from depression and anxiety to hope and authentic engagement in the work of therapy, you will no doubt want to learn more about ACT.
What therapists are saying…
"These videos are an incredible learning resource for any practitioner. You will witness some of the world’s leading ACT therapists weaving their magic, and gain valuable insight into the many different ways there are of doing ACT. It’s a world apart from reading a book; essential viewing for anyone interested in honing their ACT skills."
-- Russ Harris, MD, author of The Happiness Trap & ACT Made Simple
-- Russ Harris, MD, author of The Happiness Trap & ACT Made Simple
"Counselors, psychologists and social workers attend professional development activities for a variety of reasons, some of which include learning something new, learning more about something they already know, and becoming reinvigorated by their work. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find professional development activities that meet even one of these goals. ACT in Action is a 6-video series that meets all three goals and more. The didactic portion of the series is clear and informative, and the counseling demonstrations bring it all to life. After watching just one video, I was able to immediately incorporate ACT strategies, conceptualizations, and analogies into my work with clients. With tight budgets leaving little money for conferences and travel, the series offers quality in-house training for all staff, not just 'the lucky one' who attended the conference."
-- Jennifer M. Whitney, PhD, Associate Director, The Counseling Center, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
-- Jennifer M. Whitney, PhD, Associate Director, The Counseling Center, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
By watching this video, you will:
• Gain a deep understanding of cognitive defusion.
• Observe a number of different techniques for introducing and explaining cognitive defusion.
• Learn about common pitfalls with cognitive defusion, as well as skills to recognize and remedy them.
• Gain a deep understanding of cognitive defusion.
• Observe a number of different techniques for introducing and explaining cognitive defusion.
• Learn about common pitfalls with cognitive defusion, as well as skills to recognize and remedy them.
Length of video: 2:04:00
English subtitles available
Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-352-9
Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-353-7
Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-353-9
Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. He is the founder of the ACT model, and author of 35 books and over 500 scientific articles. Hayes has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the field, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.See all Steven Hayes videos.
Steven Hayes was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.
Psychotherapy.net defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum financial threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. We ask that all contributors disclose any and all financial relationships they have with any ineligible companies whether the individual views them as relevant to the education or not.
Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.
CE credits: 2
Learning Objectives:
- Describe cognitive defusion
- Discuss the introduction of cognitive defusion to clients
- Explain the common pitfalls of and remedies for cognitive defusion
Bibliography available upon request
This course is offered for ASWB ACE credit for social workers. See complete list of CE approvals here
© 2007
Course Reviewed January 2025
This Disclosure Statement has been designed to meet accreditation standards; Psychotherapy.net does its best to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and eliminate
bias in all areas of content. Experts are compensated for their contributions to our training videos; while some of them have published works, the purchase of additional
materials are not required for any Psychotherapy.net training. Each experts’ specific disclosures can be found in their biography.
Psychotherapy.net offers trainings for cost but has no financial or other relationships to disclose.
Psychotherapy.net offers trainings for cost but has no financial or other relationships to disclose.
You May Also Like…